While applying for a marketing job last week, I decided to manifest an idea that I had been contemplating for some time. I wanted to create a personal brand that reflected my multi-dimensional professional life. My ideal design incorporated a basic image of a woman surrounded by her life's work and passions.

Once I decided that a cameo was effective as a simple and elegant representation of a woman, I set about devising a way to create a cameo of my own profile. I found a suitable photo and edited it through Microsoft Word and Paint applications until I achieved the desired result. Here is the original unedited photo alongside the edited cameo:

Using the Paint application, I created a frame using the circle/oval drawing tool. I wanted the frame to subtly integrate symbols representing my various disciplines. Ideally, a viewer would recognize only the cameo design at first glance, and the disciplines would reveal themselves within the filigree of the frame, clearly visible only upon closer inspection.

Once the frame had been drawn, I cut-and-pasted simple silhouette symbols from public domain clip art. Clockwise from top, the symbols are: a stack of books to represent my background in historical research and library work, an artist's palette to depict my photography business and my involvement in gallery exhibits, a pen to signify my skill in writing, editing, and tutoring, and a harp, which is a universal emblem denoting music and musicianship.

The clear advantage of this design lies in its versatility: it is simple enough to be reproduced in miniature as a logo for a letterhead, but complex enough to appear on a larger scale in a variety of arenas: on a website, or a poster, or any number of marketing materials.

My new logo, printed on a letterhead for a cover letter to a prospective employer.

I'm happy to have found a design that represents my professional identity, and hope that it will catch eyes and start conversations, particularly at the interview table!

A periodic feature of the Peabody Opera program is an event showcasing new operatic works written by Peabody composers, known as Opera Etudes. This year, composer Stephen Edwards contributed his work to the program: a one-act comic opera in three scenes reflecting on the disturbing and tragic life of (the title character) Typhoid Mary and Dr. George Soper, the discoverer of her condition. I was cast in the role of Dr. Soper, alongside my colleague Cynthia Elkins, who performed as "Typhoid" Mary Mallon. The production itself was immensely fun; Stephen Edwards' libretto was packed with delightful one-line zingers and chuckles. Learning the music of a composer-colleague as it was being written provided a unique challenge, one that, I believe, enhanced my musicianship and accelerated my growth as a performer by leaps and bounds. I hope to perform this work again, as it has proven to be a rich source of athleticism for mezzo voices!

I didn't get enough of behind-the-scenes work last November; I just couldn't wait to be back in the booth again! This time I operated supertitles for Peabody Opera's production of Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, an operatic setting of Shakespeare's play performed in Peabody's Friedberg Hall.

Last weekend I had the privilege of working as supertitle operator for the Peabody Opera production of Les Dialogues des Carmélites by Francis Poulenc, performed at the Lyric Opera House of Baltimore. It was an awesome experience working behind the scenes to contribute to this phenomenal production! I'll never forget cuing the final titles, which showed the text of the Ave Maria sung by the nuns before the opera's tragic and gut-wrenching end. It never failed; every time those slides came up, I had to blink away my tears so that I could see my score! Bravi tutti.

Singer Life: My First Laryngeal Scope

One of the perks of my vocal pedagogy course at the Peabody Conservatory has been a free visit to the otolaryngologist's office for an intimate view of my instrument! My entire class went along for the appointment, and due to time constraints, only a lucky few of us were allowed some time in the examination chair. I was very fortunate to be able to get acquainted with my larynx, and to receive a clean bill of health from the physician! Amid the murmur of my classmates' conversations, you'll faintly hear my voice and watch the larynx adjust as I experiment with different sounds:

Watching a larynx in action is mesmerizing to me. No matter how many times I study the anatomy of its structure, it never ceases to amaze me how miraculous its intricate movements and reflexes are, and how incredible it is that such a fragile web of tissues can create such a panoply of sounds and expressions.

It's very helpful to have video of this event. If I ever experience a health problem with my voice, I can take this documentation to my doctor and show them the baseline for what my larynx looks like at its healthiest. This might make any future diagnoses of issues easier, and make treatment more efficient. It all contributes to my overall vocal health, which is so essential for my professional life!

This weekend I have had the privilege of participating in countertenor Drew Minter's guest teaching residency at the Peabody Conservatory! Friday and Saturday were packed with sessions, including workshops focusing on our upcoming production of Claudio Monteverdi's opera L'incoronazione di Poppea, in which I am singing the role of Nutrice. I also sang an excerpt from Bach Cantata "Gott soll allein mein Herze haben" BWV 169 for Mr. Minter's afternoon aria masterclass.

Drew Minter photos courtesy of Mark Cudek

I am honored to have had the chance to work with this amazing artist! I learned a great deal watching him work with my colleagues, especially those who share my range and repertoire. Mr. Minter gave me some great ideas for rep to start working on and I'm looking forward to tackling the books! I recorded the aria session, and I'm looking forward to studying and listening to it over the next few days to gain some ground and make some progress! I can't wait to hear how our production of Poppea comes together, and I'll be curious to hear when little touches of Minter's teaching come out in the voices. All in all, another great Peabody experience!

I had a great time doing a headshot session for fellow mezzo-soprano Taylor Boykins! Her pictures turned out beautifully! I can't wait to take more photos of beautiful artists in the coming weeks and months! Here are a few samples from Taylor's session:

I took some headshots recently for Nicole Abissi, principal trombone of the Colorado Symphony Orchesra. I just have to share a few of my favorites! I'm so excited to see how well these have turned out! It was interesting working with a brass instrument (I hadn't photographed one before). I had to be aware of unintentional reflections (I didn't want to make a cameo in the pictures through the glassy trombone bell!) and different lighting challenges! Hope you enjoy these samples!